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Lalitha Balasubramanian

Drama

4.3  

Lalitha Balasubramanian

Drama

The Empty Nest Syndrome

The Empty Nest Syndrome

3 mins
326



Shalini was putting pen to paper after a very long gap of 23 years. She was a victim of the empty nest syndrome, with both her daughters having gone off abroad for higher studies. Nandini had finished her MD in pediatrics and had proceeded to UK to complete her FRCS, and Madhvi had left for further studies in computer engineering in USA. Shalini’s husband, Vivek, was always at the beck and call of his erstwhile employers, an MNC. He would spend the odd weekend at home, but most of the time he was engrossed in his work. 


Shalini had been a reporter with a national newspaper during her younger days. The newspaper industry being what it is, the fluctuating timings of work had made her leave her job when Nandini was born, not because anyone forced her to leave but because she wanted to give her child quality time. She had never believed in leaving her daughter in the creche or a day school in order to pursue her career. When Madhvi was born within two years, she gave up the idea of a job totally.


Her time was fruitfully spent in rearing her girls to the best of her ability, giving them the opportunity to pursue sports, fine arts and other extra curricular activities in their childhood. She had no regrets. Even when her daughters were doing their college and postgraduation, she had always been a moral support to them.

But, when both of them left abroad for further studies, her entire world seemed empty. She had been so used to their presence and giving all the importance to their education and other requirements, that she started feeling lonely and somewhat useless. She started getting irritable at silly things. At first it was not so noticable, but Vivek gradually sensed the change. He was wondering why Shalini was getting angry about small things, when she had been the epitome of patience always till then.

It was when one of his close friends, Anand, came with his wife Maya to visit them that a chance conversation led him to the actual root of the problem.


“Have you seen the food articles on my site?” asked Maya.


“No,” said Shalini. “I didn’t know that you had a website, Maya.”


“Oh!” exclaimed Maya. “When our only son Vihaan went to college, I was having a lot of time on my hands. Not knowing what to do, I was spending time simply scouring social media sites as a way of passing my time. It was by sheer coincidence that I reconnected with an author who was my school mate. Browsing through her website, I was amazed at the way she had presented her books alongside a blog on all aspects of travel. This led me to think ‘why not start a blog on food, as cooking has always been my passion.’ And thus started my journey into food blogging. And believe me, though initially, I just blogged for my own satisfaction, my blog became one of the most viewed ones. As a result, I could easily monetise it.”


“What a wonderful idea!” exclaimed Shalini.


“Shalini, why don’t you start a blog of your own?” asked Vivek softly, after their guests had left. “Anyway, you have always had a way with words. Along with your journalistic experience, I am sure you would be able to do it successfully.”


Shalini nodded in acquiescence, and now she was beginning her new innings as a blogger. She did not know whether she would be a success, but that did not matter in the least. Jotting down her thoughts would make her feel more usefully occupied and more importantly she would not be moping around thinking of her girls.


They had their lives to lead and she had hers.

 

 


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